[.ca] ESV Bible, Thinline TruTone Edition (Wild Rose, Floral ... (ISBN 1581347359)

From Amazon.com:
Christians who have longed for a more readable literal Bible translation will find much to praise in the English Standard Version. The ESV's translation team of over 100 members has admirably attempted to preserve the stylistic variety of biblical authorship and ease of reading (at the eighth-grade level) despite the word-for-word translation, which historically has resulted in a choppier text flow. Bible study aficionados will appreciate the short introductions to each book, an extensive center column cross-reference system, full-color maps, and a 14,500-entry concordance. The hardcover edition includes the basic Bible frills: a presentation page, as well as marriage, birth, and death registries. There are some luxurious touches as well. The free, prepackaged CD-ROM has the ESV text, KJV Bible for comparative study and use with Strong's Concordance, Nave's Topical Bible, the Crossway Classic Bible Commentary, and others. These extra bonuses are a good incentive to take the English Standard Version for a test drive. --Cindy Crosby

Finally, the best all-around English Bible:
The English Standard Version, the 2001 conservative revision of the classic Revised Standard Version, cannot help but grasp the heart of anyone who would look at its magnificent rendering of the God-breathed biblical text, and never, ever let go! This attempt at making a standard English version of the Bible that would be as accurate as the New American Standard Bible, as readable as the New International Version, and as beautiful as the King James Verison may just have been sucessful to its goals. This translation is the only bible which seems to be fully successful in the attempt of "essentially literal" translation (that is being as word-for-word accurate to the Bible as possible, without obscuring the meaning of the passage or being unreadable). The ESV does so with such ease that one marvels at how bibles with the similar translation process of "full" or "optimal" equivalence have gone so disappointingly flat in the attempt. The ESV stays at literally word-for-word accurate as possible. Its literal accuracy matches or surpasses the New American Standard Bible the majority of the time. Meanwhile, the revisers were careful not to let the difficulty, constraint, or inaccuracy in reading of rendering some terms or phrases literally obscure the meaning of the verse. They made sure that the wording of the verses would be understandable to the modern English reader. Finally, this bible has something that leaves most other translations, especially those other full-equivalence translations, in the dust: STYLE! Yes, though lacking the Shakesperean English, you can definitely tell this bible is the direct descendant of the King James Version and the Revised Standard Version because of that unique beauty, style, and grace that rings through the previous translations. Also, if you have read conservative reviews of the RSV, you will be suspicious because it was criticized by conservatives in its time (and for good reason). Well, do not fear. A team of conservative translators, led by the reformed conservative heavyweight, J.I. Packer (theologian and author) as general editor, and under the advisory council made up of notables such as R. Albert Mohler, Paige Patterson, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, and Max Lucado, among others, have revised the RSV in that sense, too. The Isaiah 7:14 virgin prophecy, among some other faulty or liberal-minded renderings in the RSV and NRSV (these two rendered the prophecy "young woman" instead of "virgin") have been replaced by the more acceptable and (dare I say it) more accurate readings. The team also was fully aware of the task they were taking on, all acknowledging that the Bible was the inerrant, infallible Word of the Living God. Praise God for putting together such a team to bring forth a translation of the scriptures which not only lives up to, but surpassed its predecessors. This is a bible for a generation and generations to come.

The gender issue.:
This is not a review of the ESV. I am not in a position to do so, yet. I have noticed in the 60 reviews I have read a continuing reference to gender issues in translation and am compelled to write and remind my fellow English speakers of what so many seem to have forgotten: in English, the masculine pronoun is gender neutral unless the context clearly specifies that the masculine is intended!

ESV has it all!:
As a pastor and serious student of the original languages I have studied and used numerous translations (KJV, NASB, RSV, NIV, NRSV, NEB, NLT, etc.) I liked the NASB for its "accuracy"; I liked the NIV for its "readibility" and I liked the KJV for its "elegance." The trouble was...none of them "had it all." The NASB is 'accurate' but has a horrible literary style. The NIV is 'readable', but not as accurate as I like. The KJV is 'elegant' but doesn't make use of the textual scholarship advances of the past three centuries. Lo and behold, I spent time reading the ESV and discovered that I had finally found a translation that "has it all"--accuracy, readibility and elegance of expression! I've made the switch. This will be my primary Bible for preaching, teaching, memorization and meditation. I absolutely love it! If you are looking for a Bible that meets the high standards of the criteria I've mentioned (accuracy, readibility and elegance of expression) buy this Bible. You won't be sorry, and it may be an answer to your prayer. I bought the Heirloom edition. Fabulous leather, melts in the hand, and paper thick enough to prevent bleed-through of markers and pens. Please, Crossway, come out with an Heirloom Wide-margin edition!

I am thankful for this Bible:
I just received my new ESV in the mail and I couldn't be more happy. First of all, the translation seems great. I'm not a scholar of the Biblical languages (yet), so I can't comment on the technical issues that some people have raised; still, it is pretty clear to me that they managed to stay very close to the original text. The accuracy is up there with the NASB, but this bible is far more readable and stylistically elegant (a modern entrant into the RSV/KJV family). The layout of this particular Bible is also excellent. The footnoting system is clear and unobtrusive; the center-column reference system easy to use and, again, unobtrusive. I also like that each individual verse is arranged in paragraph form; the NASB I have has each verse beginning on the left margin, making for choppy reading. Finally, the book introductions are short (about a paragraph) and informative. They give you some historical context, some structural info about the text, and then send you on your way. Physically, this is an elegant, attractive Bible and just the right size. I have used the NIV for years, and this marks my transition. I found that the translation is just different enough that I could read and not have every word sound familiar. I know a lot of Bible teachers advice you to rotate translations so your reading will feel fresh. This is a great translation to rotate to. What a joy it is that God has given us his Word to read and study! I am thankful for this Bible.

A new standard:
I picked up a copy of the ESV a few months ago. I had heard that it was accurate yet readable. I am happy to say that this is absolutely true. I've always used the NIV for general reading. Lately, I've wanted to do more intensive studies and found myself drawn to the NASB. This is a good translation for its accuracy but not so good for general reading or reading aloud. The ESV is very good at both accuracy and readability. I also have no trouble following along when someone is reading from the NIV. This translation has, I think, the potential to become one of the foremost Bibles for the 21st Century. It achieves a new standard for it's accuracy and attention to the English language. My compliments to the translators.